You Love Pizza, but Your Body Hates Gluten. What to Do?
There's more than one way to make a pizza crust. These five recipes use alternative flours and vegetables for gluten-free pizzas you'll love. Sponsored by Smucker's.
Sponsored by The J.M. Smucker Company
Let’s be honest: Nothing compares to pizza — it's the quintessential comfort food. But pizza crust is just so ... flour-laden. Don’t cry in your sauce. We have some super-delicious, gluten-free, pizza-like recipes that will leave you sated (and your friends asking for the recipe).
The key to a great gluten-free pizza is a great gluten-free pizza dough, which then becomes a great gluten-free pizza crust. The truth is, many gluten-free crusts tend to be chewy, tough, gummy, and just kind of gross. Let’s avoid that!
Equipment Is Key
For gluten-free baking — and for any baking, really — equipment and the technique can be as important as the ingredients. For pizza, use a stand mixer or a heavy-duty hand mixer. And while you can always use a good old-fashioned baking sheet (covered with parchment paper, of course), a pizza stone is a great investment for better, crispier crust. Treat yourself to a pizza paddle with a long handle, so you don’t get burned.
Here are a few types of crusts — experiment, and see which you like the best.
Quinoa Crust
There are lots of flour substitutes, and quinoa is one of the best. When prepared correctly — soaked overnight, blended in a good blender, and transformed into a pancake-like batter — quinoa really resembles the original in texture. It’s also way more nutritious, filled as it is with protein and fiber. Quinoa crust can also be used for gluten-free bread to make your favorite sandwich.
Recipe: Gluten-Free Quinoa Pizza Crust
Rice Flour Crust
Rice flour — white or brown — also makes for a good, thin-crusted pie. The key is the yeast: make sure you let it really bloom. Be sure to use a hand or stand mixer as well. Bonus: it’s also good cold!
Recipe: GF Thin Pizza Crust
Zucchini Crust
Zucchini makes great pizza crust! It’s also an easy way to sneak in some veggies for the kids. Simply grate, squeeze, and mix with some chickpea flour, eggs, cheeses and spices before baking. Tip: make sure to squeeze all the liquid from the zucchini, getting it as dry as possible. Once baked, get creative and colorful with the toppings.
Recipe: Zucchini Pizza Crust
Gluten-Free Flour Crust
Using a gluten-free flour mix, then adding some basics — like olive oil, sea salt, warm water, organic cane sugar, and tapioca starch (yes this is a basic in gluten-free cooking) — gives you a great crust. Once your crust is made, toppings are everything: onions, cheese (mozzarella, feta, ricotta), and home-made gluten-free pizza sauce.
Recipe: Gluten-free Pizza Crust
Cauliflower Crust
Yes, cauliflower crust pizza is a thing. A good thing. Does it taste just like “real” pizza crust? Not exactly. But it’s still yummy, in a different kind way — this highly-rated recipe from Julianne Hough is proof.
Recipe: Cauliflower Pizza Crust
